AFL legend Ron Barassi, who spearheaded the push for a national competition, wants four teams in Sydney long-term but is against the league's plans for an 18-team competition.

After three seasons at the Swans from 1993, Barassi turned around the club's fortunes in the rugby league heartland.

But he has a much grander vision for the harbour city.

"My dream is to have four teams in Sydney and I hope we are at that stage in another 50 or 100 years," Barassi said at the launch of the book, Icons of Australian Sport - Ron Barassi.

"That would mean all the kids are playing Aussie Rules and not the English game called rugby or rugby league or soccer."

But on his 72nd birthday, the AFL icon said he was against the AFL's plan to expand the competition to 18 teams by as early as 2012.

"I don't think we should go to 18 teams," he said.

"There's too many teams in Victoria. It's one of the worst problems in football, who's going to be not here.

"It so sad [but] I think the game is more important than the club."

Barassi re-affirmed his stance that North Melbourne should have moved to the Gold Coast, claiming it would be very hard for the Roos to survive at Arden Street.

The AFL great said the right time to establish a second Sydney team would be when the market could accept it.

"They should put the second team in only when they think the game can carry two well-run, well-financed teams.

"They [the AFL] don't want to have two weak teams. So if you're going to weaken the Sydney Swans - and I'm not saying that because I'm a Sydney Swans person - it just wouldn't make sense to have two cot-cases up there."

Barassi admitted the Swans had been started up in a hurry, without much planning and in an environment without much corporate support.

Barassi said he is a believer in football going global but is concerned with the game being less of a spectacle.

"I think football is missing a few of the eye-catching dramas and thrills that there used to be, which is a pity."

"I think we should go to 16 a side, it's been done before in the VFA many years ago, it will make more space and more one-on-one contests."